A Teen With a Dream

HOW TO: Get Along With Your Sibling

I cannot recall one of my friends not hating their sibling at one point of them existing. With the relationship, you think they are the worst brother or sister in the world which is the most average and relatable idea.

Dark moment: When I was in elementary school and my brother would pick on me, I just kept thinking that I couldn’t wait until I was the successful one and he was going to be homeless and in the streets. I would tell him that as soon as I figured out he was homeless, I would wait until he truly appreciated me and then I would bring him in my huge house with a pool and other privileged items and share them with him, so he wasn’t homeless anymore. It’s a little messed up, but the point I was trying to make to him was that no matter what, we are siblings and we are supposed to have each other’s backs in the best and worst moments of our lives. Plus when our guardians or parents go away we only have each other. The other side of that story was, I better be the rich one in life because he doesn’t know how to save money and how am I supposed to buy my own aquarium with two bucks.

And so this leaves us to the advice, things someone should have told me sooner so my brother and I could be in matching outfits by now.

Give In and Make It Your Fault-This one right here is what took us so da*n long. We always wanted to blame each other for the most pointless non-important things. Plus who knows you are probably fighting because of YOU. That was my problem. I acted as the victim a good majority of the time and played off like it was never my fault which is normal, but the fighting gets so tiresome. Even when it may not be your fault just try to apologize to them and see if they can meet you halfway, but if you are still trying to be the more responsible one and they are still acting like a poo poo head let them be that way and carry on. Come back to them when they have cooled off.

Change But Then Change Back- This would apply to you if you kind of figure out that well you are not like each other … at all. Sometimes you just have to pretend you like what they like or understand what they mean. Growing up my brother liked to do those relay races and coming home from school or wherever he would want to race me. Now wait a minute I hate to run and I’m not good at running, so am I going to volunteer to race him. HELL YES. I lose every time, to this day. When he’s off to College I won’t have anyone to race. With this step just change a little, do stuff they want to do and you hate. I hate running and losing those races, but I love that he wants to race me.

Have Life Changing Moments Together- It may not be possible that you notice that moment happening or plan it, but it is possible for you to give life a little shove for it to happen. One key factor in my life that I could never forget is the Boys and Girls Club in my community. When I was there, almost every activity I did, my brother was doing too. Which means there were times where we went head to head or worked together as a team, either way, we bonded for an hour or so a day. A few years back one of the best directors to step foot in that building noticed our very separate lives and basically forced us to be together in activities. When the director had to make an errand and my brother would go with her, you bet I was told to go too. The Boys and Girls Club was the life-changing moment for me and the director shoved me into that moment while my mom shoved me in the club and my brother would just shove me…okay I’m done.

You may have already tried these, but I didn’t realize or know this advice existed so I’m just sharing it.